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From an ARRL Letter...
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==>ARRL RELEASES UPDATED "LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD" BETA SOFTWARE
"Logbook of the World" (LoTW) beta testers for the most part have reacted
positively to the latest version of ARRL's secure electronic
contact-confirmation system, but some users have run into difficulties.
Responding to problems encountered by some early beta testers, the League
has released an updated beta version of LoTW that should resolve these
issues. Beta testers are encouraged to download the new version of the
software, 1.02beta, from the LoTW page .
"While most installations and subsequent e-mailing and uploading of log
data have gone flawlessly, as expected there have been problems," said
ARRL's Dave Patton, NT1N, who's been a part of the LoTW project from the
start. He says the LoTW server software failed to recognize many of the
new digital mode designations, such as MFSK-16 and JT6M. This caused fatal
errors while digitally signing logs.
Patton says the beta update allows users to "map" any mode designation to
one of the four main Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) mode
categories--CW, phone, image, and digital--without changing the actual log
data. He said the beta upgrade also will correct other log data problems
that caused fatal errors in signing a log, including allowing the signing
process to complete the "good" parts of a log without crashing.
Beta testing got under way May 15. So far, the 1300 or so beta testers
have uploaded upward of five million contacts to the LoTW database. Once
it's ready later this year, LoTW will provide a way for amateurs worldwide
to qualify for awards such as DXCC or WAS without having to first collect
and submit hard-copy QSL cards.
One beta tester from Brazil lavished praised on the LoTW project. "I
applaud the creators of LoTW," he wrote. "This will be, for sure, the
salvation of DXing and award collecting. Please keep up this essential
work!" For now, log data are limited to contacts made no more than five
years ago (on or after January 1, 1998) to get a representative sampling,
Patton explained.
Patton promised "many more bells and whistles" over the weeks ahead. One
of those will meld LoTW with DXCC. He noted that a major DXCC software
revision, now under way, will need to be completed first.
Logging software developers now can get documentation and a Windows DLL
library--as well as complete source code for the TQSL software--at the
SourceForge Web site .
To join the beta testing program, visit the Logbook of the World--Getting
Started site . The beta testing
period wraps up in mid-July.
All QSO data submitted to LoTW will be deleted when the beta test period
ends, and users will have to obtain new digital certificates to submit log
data to LoTW once it 'goes live.' As part of the security process for the
live system, passwords will be mailed to US licensees at the address that
appears in the FCC database. Users should make sure the FCC has their
current mailing address.
Amateurs can modify their address online or via US mail by using
instructions available on the FCC Web site
.
ARRL members may submit license modifications or renewals through the ARRL
VEC .
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